Funeral Cost Breakdown: Costs of a Funeral and Burial

When you lose a loved one, you are unfortunately hit with the responsibility of making stressful decisions about funeral and burial services. Having to cover the funeral costs out of pocket makes it even more taxing. However, this happens far too often when someone passes away without life insurance or with insufficient coverage.

If you’re currently planning a funeral and wondering, How much is a coffin?, review the funeral cost breakdown below and learn how you can receive help paying for funeral and memorial services.

You can also enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to find life insurance and ensure that your loved ones aren’t responsible for the costs of your funeral.

What is the average cost of a burial and funeral?

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial is $7,848. In comparison, the median price of a funeral with a viewing and cremation is $6,970.

Take a look at the funeral cost breakdown below.

The table above includes some of the most common costs associated with funeral services, burials, and cremations. However, other fees can further increase the price.

For example, a burial plot could cost between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on the type of plot and your location. In addition, headstones and grave markers vary drastically in price. For example, simple flat markers can cost as low as $200, while monuments may cost as much as $10,000.

Some other costs to consider include floral arrangements and the price of printing an obituary in the newspaper.

What is the cost of a funeral by state?

Below is a list of the average cost of a funeral in some states.

In 2021, the West North Central region of the U.S. (including Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska) had the highest average funeral cost of $8,500. In contrast, the Mountain region (including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) had the lowest average funeral cost of $6,888.

Read more: Funeral Costs: Cremation vs. Burial

Does life insurance cover funeral expenses?

Yes, life insurance is an excellent resource when paying for a funeral. You can use the death benefit from any type of life insurance to help compensate a funeral. However, specific life insurance policies are created to cover funeral costs like final expense insurance, burial insurance, or preneed insurance. (For more information, read our “Top 10 Best Burial Insurance & Final Expense Insurance Companies“).

Final expense insurance is a type of life insurance partnered with a specific funeral home. First, the policyholder works with the funeral home to plan their final expenses and memorial services to determine what type of death benefit they need. Then, when they die, the funeral home receives the death benefit which pays for the funeral services.

Final expense insurance is typically sold to seniors. The death benefits are significantly smaller than those from other types of policies, usually ranging between $5,000 and $25,000. However, the policies don’t require a medical exam.

How can I get help paying for a funeral?

Funeral costs can accumulate quickly, and many families have difficulty affording funeral services and other final expenses. Life insurance is typically the best option for assistance with paying for a funeral. However, if your loved one passes away without life insurance or with a death benefit that isn’t large enough to afford a funeral, you may need to explore other options.

Some additional options for receiving help with a funeral include:

• Religious organizations and nonprofits – Churches and organizations, such as Funeral Consumers Alliance, may help you to find low-cost options.
• The federal government – Some spouses qualify for a $255 death benefit from the Social Security Administration. If your loved one was a military member, the VA might contribute between $300 and $2,000 for funeral and final expenses
• Disaster relief – If your loved one died due to a natural disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency might cover funeral costs.
• State programs – Some states have programs to help pay for funeral costs.
• Low-cost options – If you can’t afford a funeral, you could explore options such as direct cremation, DIY services, or body donation.

As mentioned above, the best choice for ensuring that funeral costs are covered is life insurance. If you want to purchase life insurance to make sure that your loved ones aren’t responsible for paying expensive funeral costs, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below to find affordable coverage near you.